Cognetti’s past opposition to police cooperation with ICE resurfaces

Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mayor Paige Cognetti’s past comments supporting the separation of local police from federal immigration enforcement are drawing new scrutiny as the Democrat campaigns for Congress on a message of political independence in one of the country’s most competitive House races.

Cognetti, who is challenging freshman Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, has repeatedly emphasized her willingness to break with her own party and revived the “Paige Against the Machine” message that helped propel her first campaign for mayor.